Tire-alarm.



E. A. TBRPENING.

TIRE ALARM. APPLICATION TILED MAILIQ 1909.

1,019,557, I Patented Mar.5, 1912.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. A. TERPBNING.

TIRE ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1909.

1,019,557, 7 I Patented Mar.5,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

45 trated an embodiment of my invention;

Flgure 1 1s a perspective view of a portion UNITED STATES ELMER ALOINZOTERIENING, OF MQKENA; ILLINOIS.

TIRE-ALARM. 7

Application filed March 19, 1909. Serial No. 484,368.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlvltar. 1912.

T 0 all whom it may concern: ;1

Be 1t known that I, ELMER A. TEKPENING,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Mokena, in the county ofVill and State'of, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tire-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tire alarms and has for itsgeneral object to provide satisfactory means, applicable to anauto-mobile, for giving a signahor alarm upon the 'occurrenceof unduepressure con ditions within a pneumatic tire upon such automobile.

The general plan of my invention is to provide upon the wheel a pressureresponsive device properly associated with the tire to be governed bythe pressure conditions existing within the tire; and toprovide the samepressure responsive device with electrical attachments leading to thebody of the vehicle, such that the movement of the'pressure responsivedevice to indicate an undue pressure condition-either high or low withinthe tire initiates an electrical signal. In the provision of acommercially practical device for attaining these general objects,

however, many difiiculties have to be over come, particularly in theprovision of a pressure responsive device applicable to any automobilewheel of the ordinary artillery type, irrespective of pecularities ofits rim-and'spoke contour, size, brake at tachments and the like; and inthe provision of suitable electrical connections bet-ween the pressureresponsive device rotating wit-h the wheel and the alarm or signalingdevices, located on the body of the vehicle.

My invention is designed to provide suitable means for satisfying thesepractical demands and resides in the features of -construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and specified inthe claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illusof an automobile showing a wheelequipped with an alarm device embodying my inven tion, the alarm devicesbeing generally exaggerated for clearness. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 areillustrations, respectively in perspective; in horizontal section, andin vertical section,

connections to be established to the different pressure indicatingdevices on the several wheels. Fig. 5 is an"enlarged elevation, withparts broken away, of the means preferably employed for effectingelectrical con-.

nection bet-ween the body and. the wheel; and, Fig. 6 is asection online 6+6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 1s a view showing a fragment of the elasticelectrical conductor shown in.

of a switch device for the several circuit Figs. 5 and 6, illustratingthe several parts of the construction. Fig. 8 is a plan view of thepressure-gage as applied to the wheel trim. Fig. 9 is a side view of thegage. Fig.

10 isa horizontal section through the pres sure gage. Fig. 11 is asection on line 11l1 trated in Fig. 14, said base, generally desig-'nated at 20, comprising a plate Qlprovided -with a central aperture 22to receive a valve stem 6 of .a pneumatic tire B, and having projectingtherefrom suitable attaching arms 23 provided with screw apertures 24,said arms being of material which may readily be bent to conform to theparticular shape of the telly or rim, to be conveniently attachedthereto as by screws 25. At diagonally opposite corners of the base aresup ported projecting guide rods 26, which when the base is attached tothe rim or felly, project inward in parallelism, toward the hub oft-hewheel.

The pressure gage structure, generally indicated at 30 as best shown inFigs. 8 to 13, preferably consists of a hollow casing completely closed,when finished, having what I will term its rear walls 31 and the endwalls 32 and 33 substantially straight and having post'abutments 34and34 provided at diagonally opposite corners, perfolar portion 39,extending sharply inward staple shape with one end inserted into duct 43terminating within the swell 40 in a recess 44. Exteriorly the frontwall is thickened at'the apex of the ree-ntrant angle, to provide avertical post 45, extending from the top of the casing a suitabledistance downward, preferably somewhatmore than half the depth of thecasing, and a thickened rib 46 extending along the upper "half of thefront of the casing fromsuch post to the swell 40. The vertical post 45is vertically bored to receive, or has cast therein, if desired, asleeve 47, projecting at its bottom and top. The sleeve carries at itsbottom a suitable coupling 49 extending down within the rentrant angleat the front ofthe casing, preferably below the lower edge of thecasing'for convenient access, said coupling being-of anylsuitabledescription to afford adequate air tight connection between the sleeve47 and the usual valve stem b-of the penumatic tire B. The upper end ofthe sleeve 47 carries a valve 5t) of any suitable construction,preferably an ordinary pneu-' matic tire valve, provided with thecustomary cap 51. From the swell 40 a small duct 52'is drilled, saidduct'openinginto the recess 44 within the swell 40, and extend ingthence into communication with .the-

sleeve 47. The pressure responsive element of the gage is a shortBourdon tube 55,

tube with its interior in open comr'nunicurved to fit within the casingand extends from the recess 44'through the narrow waist 42 into the headenlargement-41 of thecasing. To connect the foot end of the gage cationwith the duct 52, but otherwise to hermetically seal said tube end, Iemploy a short length of very fine tubing 56 bent into 52 from therecess 44 and its other end extending into the Bourdon tube '55, andwith the tube 56 thus positioned I flood the corner of'the casing,including the recess 44, with solder 57, to a level somewhat below thereach of the ends of tube 56, thereby hermetically sealing the foot endof the Bourdon tube inside and out,'save for the passage affordedthrough the connecting tube 56, and thereby also rigidly attaching theBourdon tube to the casing. This construction I have found in practiceto 'be mostelfective as .a means'of securing and sealing the Bourdontube for positlvely insuring 1ts open connection with the pressuresupply duct 52.

- The heador free end-of the Bourdon tube 55, is closed in any suitablemanner and carries a movable electric contact, preferably or frame ofthe machine, andeto this end a I in the form of a wire loop 59, normally1ying diagonally in the head chamber 41 of the casing. Two relativelystationary but adjustable contacts, insulated from the casing areprovided for coaction with the contact 59, such stationary contacts 60and 60 being preferably verticatwire loops rotatably supported from thetop of the casing so that by turning them to vary their presentation tothe movable contact the rangeofmovement of, said contact 59 necessary tobringit into contact with either of the stationary loops, may be varied.As shown in Fig. 12, the stationary contact loops .60 and 60 areelectrically connected with binding posts 61, 61' insulated from thecasing, and bearing appropriate nutsfor securing a wire thereto.Preferably further a switch is provided for electrically connecting ordisconnecting the two binding posts 61 and '61, such switch 63preferably providing a stationary contact arm 63 upon post 61 and themovable con- I tact arm 63 upon post'61, asbest shownin Figs. 11 and 12.

' For establishing electrical connections for the pressure responsivedevice the casing to which-the foot endof the Bourdon tube-is.

connected, is grounded to themetallic parts Wire 65 is run from a pointof contact with the base 20 up around a spoke of the wheel to a metallicpart thereof, such asthe hubcap, electrically connected with the frame."The contact 60 for the free end of the Bourdon tube, which is the'lowpressure con tact, has connected thereto a wire 66, which isrun'around a spoke of the machine and" suitably 'across the hub, forelectrical con,-

nection only with an insulated conductor.

extendingto the body of the machine, for connectionjwith the alarmdevicesflthereon. As best shown in Fig.6 the Wire 66 has at itsextremity a clip- 67 which engages in an" annular groove in a'nut 68,screwed upon a bolt 69, which has a tapered base 70, driven into, butcompletely insulated fromthe tapered bore of a nut 7 screwed into aprecise center of a hub-cap A ofthe wheel.

Upon the-bolt 69 is'also screwed a sleeve 72, .secured in position by anut 7 3, said sleeve being preferably annularly recessed and made of'some good wearing material, such as steel. A shackle 74 provided nearits lower end with a key hole opening 75, is slipped on the sleeve 72,andpreferably secured against detachment by a pin 76, so that it bearsupon and makes constant electrical connection with the sleeve and theparts electrically connected thereto. The upper end-of the shackle isprovided with a hook 77 ,which engages a loop.7 8 connected I with anelastic or extensible electric con-j ductor structure 7 9. Theconducting structure 79 I have found in practice shouldbe elastic tocompensate for relative movements of the body and wheel; supported atboth ends for swinging movement so that lateral elastic core 80 made upof a bundle of fine rubber strands, having woven or coiled thereabout asuitable number of fine wires (preferably of a high grade of phosphorbronze) each longer thanthe normal length of the core and preferablyinterwoven with strands of insulating material 82 which serves toprotect the conducting strands and space them apart the entirestructurebeing overlaid and insulated by an outer extensible casing 83, of toughinsulating fabric woven thereon. The ends of a suit-able length of theelastic conductor 79, are inclosed in metallic ferrules 84,84, theextremities of the wires 81 being brought out and bent back,- as shownin Fig. 5 to make contact with the ferrules and the latter re ceivingand inaking contact with the suitable terminal clips. The upper terminalclip 85,: which is ,preferablyla split spring construction, engages agrooved sleeve 86 rotatably mounted on a bolt 87, carried by aninsulating block secured on appropriate part of the automobile, such asthe mud guard, the bolt 87 bearing also a clip 89, having connectedthereto a wire 90. In making the connections for the front wheels it ispreferable to carry the elastic connectors 79 vertically upward to themud guards so that they may not-be interfered with by the wheels whenthe wheels are turned on verti-.

cal axes to steer the machine. With respect 'to the rear wheels thedirection in which the shown in Figs. 2 to 4, 93 indicates an insulating block provided with four transverse posts 94, insulated fromeach other and each having'a terminal binding post to which one of thewires 90 may be connected, there being provided upon the block ametallic bus bar or plate 95, through which extend contact screws 96provided with operating knobs 97, so that when screwed home each.

screw 96 may contact with one of the posts '94, so connecting it withthe bus bar 95.

The wire 92 is connected to the bus bar 95 and at its other'end with anelectroresponsive alarm, or signal device, 98, herein shown as anelectric bell, having its other terminal connected by a wire 99 througha battery 100 and to the frame 0. The switch structure 91 and the alarmmay be mounted onthe dash-board d'of the vehicle and the battery andfixed wiring may be located in any suitable place. In the attachment ofthe device the valveiwithin valve stem 5 of'the. tire B is eitherremoved or held constantly open in any suitable fashion so that thepressure within the tire may be communicated through the stem Z)coupling 49, sleeve 47, duct 52, and the reduced tube 56 to the- Bourdontube 55. The contact parts are so adjusted that when the Bourdon tubestands in the position to which it is forced by the normal pressure ofthe tire it is between the low pressure contact 60 and the high pressurecontact 60, and said contacts; are so adjusted that by a predetermineddrop or rise in the pressure electrical connection between the movablecontact 59 and one of the stationary contacts will be made by reason ofthe pressure responsive movement of the Bourdon tube. When contact ismade between the part 59 carried by the Bourdon spring and either of thecontacts 60 and 60 a circuit is established as follows: from the battery100 through the common wire 99, bell 98, switch 91, wire 90, bolt 87,elastic conductor 79, shackle 74, bolt 69 and its connections, wire 66,the closed contact to the pressure responsive device, the supportingframe of said device, wire 65 to the 100 metallic parts of theautomobile and thence back to the battery through the groundedterminal-connection,thereof.

When the automobile is in transit and contact is made through anypressure responsive device thereon, the driver may M readily learn whichWheel is affected by loosening, one after another, the switch screws ,96until he finds which one when loosened causes the cessation of alarm-signal. Of

course, the wheel wired to the contact post wherewith such screw coactsis the one affected. The driver should then close such contact again,starting the signal in operation, and after stopplng his car determinewhether the trouble in the tire is due to high I or low pressure. Thismay readily be done by simply opening the small switch 63. If thetrouble is due to high pressure, such opening of the switch will cause acessation of the operation ofathe alarm whereas if itis due to lowpressure the alarm will continue to ring as the permanent connection ofthe alarm circuit is with the low pressure contact. The tire may bepumped up or pressure relieved through valve 50.

It will now be apparent that by the con-- struction and, arrangementofparts hereihbefore described, I provide a gage construe t-ion of "suchsmall size and yet with such a relatively wide range of pressureadjustment that it may be applied to any style of wheel having a tirebuilt for any usual pressure and to interfit with any standard Valveirrespective of its precise projection from the rim or felly. It will beobserved that the gage. radially supported by the valve stem, and guidedby the rods upon the base, may move radially as the tire swells orcontracts in pumping up or exhausting, but throws no lateral strains onthe valve stem.

Also it will be observed I provide efficient and durable connectingdevices for establishing the desired electrical connections from wheelto body, and means for readily ascertaining which particular tire isaffected and the character of the trouble affecting it.

While for clearness ofdisclosure I have herein described a particularembodiment of my invention which I have used in practice and have foundto be successful, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatnumerous variations might be made in the specific construction withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claimis:

1. The combination with a vehicle wheel having a pneumatic tire,provided with a valve stem, of a pressure gage provided with a couplingattached to the valve stem, a guide member slidably engaging said gageand secured in fixed relation to the wheel, and an alarm deviceoperatively associated with said gage.

-pressure gage arranged for support in a radial direction upon the valvestem, a guide secured to the wheel engaging the gage and an alarm deviceoperatively associated with said gage.

4. The combination with an automobile wheel, provided with a pneumatictire, having a valve stem projecting inwardly toward the hub of thewheel, of a pressure gage adapted to be positioned between the spokes ofthe wheel, provided on one. side with a coupling for connecting saidgage to the valve stem to receive support therefrom, and

upon another side with an inflation valve, and an alarmdeviceoperatively associated with sald gage.

I 5. In a tire alarm, the combination with a vehicle wheel provided witha pneumatic tire having a valve stem projecting radially inward, of aclosed'casing, a coupling carried by said casing for connecting saidcasing to the tire valve stem, an inflation valve carried by said casingon another side there of, a Bourdon tube within the casing havingcommunication with said coupling and valve, and a signal deviceoperatively associated with said Bourdon tube.

6. In a tire alarm, a pressure gage for connection with a wheel betweenthe spokes thereof comprising a closed casing, a Bourdon tube withinsaid casing, a coupling carried by said casing in open communicationwith the tube, adapted for connection with the valve stem of a pneumatictire valve, an inflation valve carried by said casing in opencommunication with said coupling, and an alarm device operativelyassociated with said gage.

7. In a tire alarm, the combination with a vehicle wheel provided with apneumatic tire, having a valve stem, of a pressure gage comprising acasing having a rentrant front wall, a post enlargement extending partof the depth of the reentrantangle, a coupling extending from one sideof the post to connect with the valve stem of the tire, and an inflationvalve connected with the opposite end of said post, a Bourdon tubewithin the casing, said tube,-valve and coupling communicating with oneanother through the post, and signaling devices operatively associatedwith said pressure gage.

8. In a tire alarm the combination with a vehicle wheel having apneumatic tire provided with an inwardly projecting ,valve stem, 9. basesecured to a wheel part adjacent said valve stem and provided withguides parallel-with the stem, and a pres- 9. In a tire alarm, astructure for association with the wheel between two spokes thereof,comprising a base adapted to engage the wheel part, provided with anaperture for the valve .stem of the wheel tire, parallel guidesextending inwardly from said base, a casing slidingly mounted on saidguides, a pressure responsive device within the casing, a couplingcommunicating with saidwheels, of a pressure gage mounted upon a wheelfor rotation therewith and havingcommunication with the tire, an alarmdevice mounted on the body of the vehicle and of the vehicle body and apart on the axis of aflwheel.

In testiinony whereof hereunto set my ha .nd in the presence of twowitnesses.

ELMER ALONZO. TERPENING.

In the presenceof GEORGE T. .MAY, J r., MARY F. ALLEN.

